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By Ray Hickson

When a mare’s in form there’s no better time to give her a shot at stakes company and that’s the Bjorn Baker stable’s thinking as Monte Supreme steps up in class at Rosehill on Saturday.

Luke Hilton (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The five-year-old is unbeaten in three starts since joining the Baker camp, all in benchmark grade, and they’ve led her to the Group 3 $250,000 The Nivison (1200m) for only her second attempt in a Group race at what will be her 15th start.

Monte Supreme, $6.50 with TAB on Friday, clocked the fastest last 600m of the meeting (32.43, Punter’s Intelligence) when she won at Rosehill two weeks ago and Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said her ability to sprint will be an asset.

“She has a really good turn of foot, that’s her advantage and it’s always a help when you’re a get back run on horse because gates aren’t as big a factor either,’’ Hilton said.

“I think they will roll along enough but she has shown she can pick them up off steady tempos.

“She’s going fantastic. She’s a magnificent looking mare, big and strong and very catching to the eye. She was an expensive yearling so she’s sort of living up to that now.”

An $800,000 purchase, Monte Supreme has won her three races this campaign over 1000m and 1100m but she has placed twice at 1300m so Hilton doesn’t think the extra ground will be an issue.

“The key to her is she’s had her runs spaced, she’s kept short and sharp,’’ he said.

“It’s the first time she goes on the two week back up this time so that will be another test and challenge for her but we had to give her the opportunity.

“Jason (Collett) has been over the moon with her, it’s all pointed to giving her a crack at it and this fell perfectly for her.”

The Baker stable is also represented by the speedy Bonita Queen and Hilton said while she has drawn the outside barrier in The Nivison she will have the chance to get rolling.

She wasn’t able to find the front when finishing midfield behind Monte Supreme last start.

“It’s a tricky gate but we don’t mind her at 1200m,’’ he said.

“It makes it a touch easier for her to roll forward, she’s a better horse when she gets out and dominates and she hasn’t been as sharp to find the front at a shorter trip.”

Honest mare Yankee One won three of her first four starts for the Baker stable last preparation and Hilton said the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m) is potentially on the short side considering she stretched out to a mile last time in.

“She will be better when she gets out over further but she was very sharp at Canterbury first-up last preparation,’’ he said.

“Her trials have been good, she’s got a tricky gate so will probably have to get back and run on but she’s going well.”

Monte Supreme wins at Rosehill on September 27

Meanwhile, a decision on where Flight Stakes runner-up Within The Law heads is pending following her scratching from the Gloaming Stakes on Saturday.

Hilton said there are three options for the filly – the Group 1 King Charles III (1600m) at weight-for-age, another clash with Apocalyptic in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield or to go straight into the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 25.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill